Vegetable Literacy

Published in 2013 by Deborah Madison, the book explores the botanical relationships between different vegetables to help home cooks understand how to pair them. It organizes recipes by plant family, such as the nightshade or carrot families.

While Deborah Madison is famous for her vegetarian cooking, the book does include some recipes that incorporate meat, dairy, and eggs. The primary focus is on elevating vegetables, but it is not exclusively a vegan manifesto.

Yes, Madison uses her botanical breakdown to teach cooks how to use the entire plant, including parts usually discarded, like carrot tops or broccoli leaves. She explains how companion planting translates into companion cooking.

Deborah Madison is a pioneer of vegetarian cooking in America and the founding chef of the iconic Greens Restaurant in San Francisco. Her expertise in plant-based cuisine earned her multiple James Beard Foundation awards over her career.